Monthly Archives: April 2018

Open House Success

A big thank you to everyone who was able to attend our Preservation Week Open House last Thursday!  It was a great success and we all had so much fun sharing what we do with everyone.  If you were not able to attend, we wanted to share the awesome comic that our very own Chris Voynovich (conservation technician) created just for the event.

ScrapbookOnePgWonder_CV_withInterior

Attendees were able to create their own one-page wonder featuring this comic and then had a chance to flip through the Madisonville Branch Library’s scrapbook that inspired the comic. Those who attended were also able to explore various artist book structures by viewing and handling (and in some cases, just admiring from a far) collection items from the DAAP Library’s artist book collection.  The evolution of the book was a central theme with attendees learning about pre-codex structures (like cuneiform tablets and scrolls), early codex structures (with a foray into medieval bindings and parchment), and modern structures like the ever complex scrapbook.  Attendees were able to stamp their own book mark, featuring a quote by P.J. O’Rourke, and learn about RTI, how the lab has improved their capture process, and view the results from a recent RTI project featuring cuneiform tablets.  And of course, attendees were able to grab a Busken cookie featuring our Preservation Lab logo.  It was a great event!

Make sure to mark your calendar for 2019 Preservation Week (April 21–27) so you can come down, visit the lab, and see the cool stuff we’re working on.  I’m also working on a little video of the event, so stayed tuned and check out our MediaSpace channel for updates in the near future.

Jessica Ebert (UCL) – Conservation Technician & Lead Photographic Documentation Tech

Preservation Week 2018 – be our guest!

It’s spring in Cincinnati, which means two things – the epic weather battle between winter and summer (snow yesterday, 71 degrees Fahrenheit tomorrow) and the annual Preservation Week Lab Open House!
This year marks the lab’s 7th year of participation in this national event, an American Libraries Association initiative aimed at raising “awareness of the role libraries and other cultural institutions play in providing ongoing preservation education and information.”  Our event is open to the public – come one, come all!
The Open House will include a behind the scenes tour of the lab, a peek at amazing collection items being preserved for our parent institutions – the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County and the University of Cincinnati Libraries, and of course a new bookmark.

A walk down memory lane – bookmarks 2012-2017.


This year our theme highlights the versatility and artistry of the book, from a complex composite object such as a scrapbook to a simple one-page zine.  We’ll also touch on the evolution of the book form, from cuneiform to artist’s book.  As is our tradition, we’ll set up “stations” were visitors can roam, explore, and learn at their own pace.
We are looking forward to see you all on, Thursday, April 26th, 1:30-3:00 pm, 300 Langsam Library.  And yes, there will be cookies!
Holly Prochaska (UCL) —- Preservation Librarian
 
 

Pleasant surprise

I just want to take a moment to say – sometimes a little surprise can be so satisfying!
We’ve all been there, approaching a task where we see the beginning but not the end.
Well I’m here to tell you there is hope in the darkness. Occasionally delamination can be a real struggle. Sometimes you know what is underneath, sometimes you don’t.
But when you start the work, and occasionally you get a pleasant surprise.

 
 
 
 
 
 
Yay!  And now I think it’s going to be a good day!

 
Chris Voynovich (PLCH) —- Conservation Technician